Monaco and Beyond

Welcome!

2020-08-27T08:02:00.000-07:00

This blog isn't just about Monaco, the nicest country on earth. It's about anything: travel, fun, food, people, animals, photography, and much more. I would like it to be a place where people can come to relax and enjoy some reading and photos.

If this is your first visit, please click on 'Read more' for some essential information.

My big passion is travel photography. Wherever I go, I take my camera with me and come back home with thousands of photos. I do travel a lot - it's a big and meaningful part of my life. In fact, I've been traveling extensively for the last 19 years, and I plan to keep on traveling for as long as I can breathe. I want to share my trips with you: the images of a place, its atmosphere, people, etc. I don't tend to write lengthy travel reports - a good batch of photos is better than thousands of word, right? So, the primary focus of this blog is travel images, although there are many other small and big topics I'll post on now and then.

I must admit that I don't intend to write anything about my personal life. There are so many other topics to discuss. :-) By the way, politics is boring, so, most likely you won't find this place the right one to discuss it.

A friendly reminder: this is not a place for bullies or rude people. You don't always have to agree with everyone, but this can be done in a civilized manner.

And, oh, English isn't my first language, so please be nice and don't pick on me if you spot a mistake, miTSake, or mYstaCKe. Nevertheless, the language of this journal is English. Please keep your posts in English only. For those of you whose native language isn't English, it's a good opportunity to practice it in this journal.

One more thing: the photos you see in this blog are taken by myself (unless stated otherwise). All my images are COPYRIGHTED in The United States Copyright Office (Library of Congress). When I find any of them used without my consent, I'll send you an invoice. It's only fair, isn't it? If your website is non-commercial (for example, it is a personal blog/journal, or a non-profitable website), and you absolutely can't live without my photos, you may copy them into your site, but please do that ONLY with the live link to this journal. The same goes for my posts - you can quote them with the link to the original text. Thank you. If you need any of my images (hi-res) for commercial use, please contact me and we'll discuss the licensing.

Daisy's Greyt Escape - a book for dog lovers

2011-11-07T10:58:00.000-08:00

Title: Daisy's Greyt Escape
Author's Name: Jeff Scott
ISBN: 9780615544656
Genre: fiction, adventures
Format: eBook and print

Out of public view lurk anxiety and hopelessness as racetrack Greyhounds fear the worst once they lose their value to the dog track industry. DAISY'S GREYT ESCAPE plunges the reader into the tumultuous life of one Greyhound that is not willing to go without a struggle.

When Daisy learns that slow dogs like her are taken away, she makes a courageous choice that catapults her on a thrilling and adventurous search for a home to find the genuine love that has eluded her all of her life.

http://www.amazon.com/Daisys-Greyt-Escape-Jeff-Scott/dp/0615544657/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320079507&sr=8-1

Thanksgiving truck

2010-11-21T16:29:00.000-08:00

Spotted on the side of a highway in Texas, this truck full of pumpkins looked very countryish and even cozy, I'd say.

Connecticut Capitol Building

2010-10-23T21:28:00.000-07:00

Located in Hartford, the capital city of Connecticut, it was built in 1878 in a predominantly neo-Gothic style of the Victorian epoch (Eastlake).

Pumpkins

2010-10-22T18:34:00.000-07:00

Monaco coat of arms

2010-10-21T19:48:00.000-07:00

This is located on a building opposite from the Palace.

American Boy Scout

2010-10-20T08:33:00.000-07:00

Ducks

2010-10-19T04:07:00.000-07:00

Scene in Monaco:

Faces of Disneyworld

2010-10-14T17:06:00.000-07:00

Disneyworld is such a place where you can see incredible scenes everywhere. Like this guy with Yoda on his back. Imagine, if he came to an office with is?! But here's the Magic Kingdom, a place where you can be yourself.

You can dress alike if you want to be all cute on us. Like this sweet couple.

Or these newlyweds who spend their honeymoon at Disneyworld.

Or these mother and daughter.

Or even these girlfriends.

There's so much to do in Disneyworld that at first you feel lost. You can sink back into your childhood and greet your favorite characters. Like this child does. Trust me, it is OK to be a child here - it's Disneyworld.

Pull out that inner child of you and go ahead and collect autographs. In Disneyworld, they sell special books just for that.

And don't forget to give your character a hug. Again, it is perfectly OK, because you're in Disneyworld.

Make sure to not miss the opportunity and take that family photo with Winnie you've always dreamed about when you were a child.

Or with Tigger.

Or of just yourself alone.

Speaking of photos, Disneyworld is that perfect place where photos are easy to take. Even kids can do it.

But if you have this Mickey hat on your head, rest assured that your photos will come out the best - Mickey takes a good care of you. :-)

In Disneyworld you truly are taken care of. Starting with ease of navigation in the park, and ending with an ice cream, in case you feel like you want some sweet snack right now. Like an ice cream or something. The frozen treat vendors are all over the park, so you won't miss them.

If you bring your kid or grandkid with you, your shoulders is the best place for that. :-) But you may also rent a stroller, of course.

Or keep the kids on a leash so that they don't get lost. (A great idea in a crowded place like Disneyworld, by the way.)

Who doesn't love speedy driving? Young or old, it doesn't matter!

Disneyworld accommodates people of all ages, races, disability stage - just come, there's always place for anyone. No one will feel uncomfortable.

If for some reason one has a hard time walking, there's no reason not coming to Disneyworld. Electric mobility scooters are plenty and available for renting in any Orlando park.

But, of course, Disneyworld isn't a place only for us, grown ups. :-) The kids are the primary customers and oh, yes, they ARE happy here. When you come to Disneyworld, you see thousands of smiles around you. It seems like the happiest place on Earth. And it is!

Of course, sometimes you can spot a philosopher with a serious face.

On a hot day - mind you, it's Florida! - the most fun (and also very refreshing) is the water slide. Look at these happy faces and go ahead, get in line right now!

At the end of the day, take some more shots with your favorite characters. You can find them anywhere in the park. Again, it doesn't matter how old you are.

One last autograph.

One last shot.

If you have never done so, come to Disneyworld, to the world if childhood and fun. I never really cared before, but after I visited Orlando, I changed my mind. And of course, I'd come here again.

Monaco at night

2010-10-10T10:53:00.000-07:00

This is an entrance to the "Moods" night club.

Where's the gondolier?

2010-10-05T18:37:00.000-07:00

Notice the 'Made in Italy' on the gondolier's hat. Things are still made in other countries than China, hooray! :-)

Colorful zebra

2010-10-04T18:28:00.000-07:00

Who said the world is just black and white? There are other colors too! :-)

St. Nicholas Cathedral, Monaco (Cathédrale de Monaco)

2010-10-03T13:31:00.000-07:00

Pont du Gard

2010-10-01T16:31:00.001-07:00

Pont du Gard is a true gem of Provance. This 2,000 year old ancient Roman aqueduct crosses the Gard River and is located in Southern France, not far from Avignon or Nimes.

What you see in the photo below is only part of the aqueduct - the Pont, the French word for 'bridge.' The entire aqueduct is originally 50 km/31 miles long and runs between Uzes and Nimes. In ancient times, it supplied water for the people of Nimes. It carried about 200 million litres (44 million gallons - can you imagine how much that is? I can't!) of water a day, which was enough to fill everyone's house, as well as the baths and fountains of the entire town. The Pont is 49 m (161 ft) high and 274 m (899 ft) long.

The aqueduct was completed around the middle of the 1st century AD. It took 5 years (some sources quote 15) and between 800 and 1,000 workers to build it.

This three-tier bridge has 6 large arches on the first level (or row), 11 on the second, and 35 small arches on the top, third level. The engineers used a simple technique of stacking arches on top of each other.

No mortar had been used in its construction, just blocks of stone, some of which weight up to 6 tons.

The width of the levels varies from 9 m (30 ft) at the bottom to 3 m (9.8 ft) at the top.

In the Middle Ages, Pont du Gard served as a toll bridge and was severely worn down over the years.

In 1702, Pont du Gard was restored, its lost stones replaced and cracks filled.

Another major renovation took place in 1855-58, when Napoleon III, who admired everything Roman, decided to repair Pont du Gard further.

Since 1985, Pond du Gard has been included in the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

There is a cozy restaurant right on the river and next to Pont du Gard. The restaurant is part of Le Vieux Moulin Hotel, which used to be a flour mill.

Staying at the Le Vieux Moulin Hotel is an especially great experience, but you need to book well in advance, as the hotel is quite popular. It is a small hotel with only 10 rooms, so, no wonder, it can fill up quickly. Make sure you get a room with a view of the Pont! And don't forget to observe the extraordinarily beautiful sunset. And the sunrise too, of course. :-)

Keep in mind, you won't find a TV in this hotel (nor WiFi), since the hotel owners believe that the sight of Pont du Gard is magnificent enough (and I agree!). It's a sin to watch TV having such a gorgeous view in front of you (it's a joke, of course, but it's very close to what I actually believe in this case).

While the hotel is really lovely, the food is somewhat plain and I'd rate it 3 out of 5, mostly for its quality and careless presentation. But, of course, we didn't expect a haute cuisine in a rural Provencal location, so that was okay with us. Mainly, a better presentation of the food would probably raise my rating up by quite a bit. We tried the soft veal filet with foie grass and carrot puree + salad, and...

...a plate of mixed seafood and meat on a bed or rice + salad (notice the salad on the left - not a very nice part of the dish, don't you think so?).

But we were compensated with a fabulous view of Pont du Gard and a cozy atmosphere on the restaurant terrace, along with the serenity of its surroundings.

Near the restaurant terrace you can see a huge wheel (it is about 1.2 m/ (4 ft) tall, or a bit taller than that. I believe it is from one of the ancient carts the Romans used in building the aqueduct.

Pont du Gard is open year round. You can drive there by car or take a bus from Nimes, Avignon, or other surrounding towns.

Pont du Gard's official website has lots of helpful information:

http://www.pontdugard.fr/page.php?langue=GB&m=12_1

Le Vieux Moulin Hotel website:

http://www.vieuxmoulinpontdugard.com/en/hotel.html

Amsterdam cat

2010-09-30T18:55:00.000-07:00

This Amsterdam resident has long ago learned to philosophically ignore the curious by-passers.

Speeding up in New York

2010-09-29T19:00:00.000-07:00

Yet another car theme today.

New York is such a city where it is impossible to just slowly stroll around. At least, I can't, nor can anyone I know, and, I suspect, neither can the New Yorkers. I'm sure, there are some rare exceptions that only support the rule.

Each time I visit New York, I feel and see this crazy whirlpool: everyone hurries somewhere, not noticing anything and anyone on their way. Even the tourists, after a day or two, get "infected" with this wild speed and run, run, run... In this city one can't be slow - its atmosphere is pushing him up in his back.

Get around your own way!

2010-09-28T18:44:00.000-07:00

Enjoy this funny scene in Paris, where parking space is so much in demand, and so scarce, that even tiny "toy" cars can't always fit into an opening.

Monte-Carlo Casino in the Sky Mirror

2010-09-27T14:52:00.000-07:00

Sky Mirror, by Anish Kapoor

Orchids

2010-09-27T14:43:00.000-07:00

Just been experimenting with special effects. The results are pretty interesting. :-)

This one comes from the same photo, but with different tones. Guess, I like the first one better. Somehow it feels warmer, and I love anything warm! :-)

Wooden cart in Gruyères, Switzerland

2010-09-27T04:31:00.000-07:00

I just loved this little cart I spotted in Gruyères a while ago.

To add to the previous post

2010-09-12T17:54:00.000-07:00

Monaco has the world's highest population density. With the area of 0,75 square miles (about 2 sq. km), the population is over 35,000 (2008). That is about 18,000 people per square mile! The second most dense population vise country is Bangladesh with it's "only" 1,100 people per sq.mile (total population there is over 162 million people).

Another interesting fact about Monaco is that in their own country, the Monegasques (the native Monaco people) are a minority. They make 16% of the total country's population. Isn't it weird?

The Concrete Jungle - the REAL one!

2010-09-09T18:56:00.000-07:00

Some call New York City the 'Concrete Jungle.' Well, I've been to NYC many times (10, 20? can't remember), and I can say without a doubt that NYC Concrete Jungle can't beat the Monaco Concrete Jungle. Not even close. People literally live on top of other people's heads. Now I have to go to Hong Kong and Singapore to see if those actually can beat Monaco (which I somehow doubt).

See it for yourself:
(This is Monaco)

The cat who loves to be photographed

2010-09-09T17:24:00.000-07:00

This Siamese Blue Point is one of three cats I have. He loves to be taken photos of, and would patiently sit and wait until you're done fiddling with your camera and pushing that button. Then he would pretend that all this has nothing to do with him and will walk away to mind his business elsewhere.

So blue!

2010-09-06T17:31:00.000-07:00

I never believed there are flowers this blue until I saw them with my own eyes. Blue is one of those colors I love in flowers the most. All shades, light and dark - as long as it's blue.

Colorful Colmar

2010-09-05T12:10:00.000-07:00

There is one town in France that I particularly love - the colorful medieval Colmar. It is located in Alsace, not far from Strasbourg. I've been there twice and I'd go there again. Colmar was one of those rare European towns that were barely touched by WWII, thus never destroyed and rebuilt. The allies avoided bombing old Colmar. What you see here is original; those beautiful 15th and 16th century half-timbered houses are authentic.

Founded in the 9th century, this town is relatively small (just little over 65,000 people live here). Yet this Alsatian marvel is always popular among tourists.

The houses in the town center are painted in all sorts of colors: red, yellow, blue...

Some houses are squeezed between the others and deformed, as time does its work. This only adds to the charm of the town and makes you feel that this is one of those real old European towns.

It's hard to imagine how people manage living in such houses.

I never grow tired of admiring those old timber houses - I love them so much! They remind me of fairy tales I've red as a child. Sometimes, I imagine who among those fairytale characters is living in a given house. Let's see... Brothers Grimm's Rapunzel lived over there, below the roof of the Maison Pfister.

This yellow-red one was probably occupied by Cinderella's stepmother and her daughters, allowing poor Cinderella to live in the cold attic.

The Brave Little Tailor lived near by, in a yellow house in the middle. Under the roof, of course.

And in this red house lived Little Red Riding Hood (isn't that 'logical'? hehe)

I can't explain why I link the German fairy tales to this town though.

People of Colmar like to decorate their windows and balconies with pots of flowers. Flowers are abundant here.

My favorite thing to do in Colmar is to look up at the windows with colorful shutters. Each time I come to a town like this, I seem to gaze up more than in front of me. :-)

Colmar is the hometown of a French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi who created the Statue of Liberty that was given as a gift by France to the United States.

An interesting part of Colmar is La Petite Venise (Little Venice) that is packed with restaurants along the canals.

Some practical information:

The best time to visit Colmar is late spring. It is the time when there aren't as many tourists yet, so you can enjoy the town without big crowds. There are many hotels in this town, but in the high tourist season it is better to book ahead. But summer or autumn are great too. Colmar is the second driest city in France, so you have a good chance for fair weather. Christmas is also a lovely time to visit Colmar to enjoy all the street lights and decorations.

If you like fine wines, this is the place for you - Colmar is the capital of the Alsatian wine region.

A little bit of Provence

2010-09-04T17:21:00.000-07:00

For those of you who love traveling, here's a collection of all sort of articles to enjoy:

http://www.backpackingmatt.com/the-gen-y-travel-blog-carnival-3rd-edition/

And for those who love Provence, here's a shot of a cozy local restaurant at Pont du Gard (a bit later on that). Coziness is everything when it comes to a restaurant; after the food, of course. :-) It's beautiful here on a warm sunny day: light freshening breeze, gentle swish of the leaves, and indescribable serenity around. I'm just tempted to lay my bones under the shade of an umbrella and relax, forgetting about everything in the whole world...

Hot day...

2010-09-02T14:45:00.000-07:00

Mystical Paris

2010-09-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

There's something about the Eiffel Tower that drives me to it, and that I can't explain...

Before the sunrise in Montreux

2010-08-31T20:30:00.000-07:00

A sunrise, of course, is an awesome experience in pretty much any place. But there's something else that is also quite attractive to me. It's that serene time between the night and the sunrise. In some places they last just minutes, in others it might take a long time. But it's the quietness and the crispness of the air that makes this moment so special. Even the birds are still quiet. There's nothing that can distract you from meditation and calm observation of the beauty around you.

Château de Chillon, or the Chillon Castle, located near Montreux on Lake Léman (also known as Lake Geneva) played a part in Lord Byron's poem 'The Prisoner of Chillon' (1816), where a Genovese monk François Bonivard was imprisoned in 1500's.

The castle is approximately 1,000 years old; no one knows exactly how old it is, but its age can be assumed from the first mentioning in writing about a thousand years ago. Also, while doing some archeological work here in late 1800's, Roman coins were found on the site.

Today, the castle is a museum. It is also one of my favorite castles and I've visited it three times in the past few years.

This early in the morning, the castle, of course, is still closed. But you can walk around it freely.

If you are coming to the area, don't miss this Swiss jewel. More practical information on planning your visit can be found on the caste's official site:
http://www.chillon.ch/en/index-Horaires-0-0.html

Have you ever seen a tree this big?

2010-08-30T17:45:00.000-07:00

These monsters grow in Redwoods National Park, California, USA

Paris pigeons

2010-08-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

Black tulips exist! :-)

2010-08-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

Did Cornelius van Baerle (from Alexandre Dumas novel “The Black Tulip"), who was obsessed with the tulipmania and attempted to cultivate the elusive black tulip, know what would be the final result?

Would fascinating Black Parrot Tulip that resembles colorful tropical birds let him win the prize sooner?

New Year's Eve Parade in Disneyworld

2010-08-29T09:40:00.000-07:00

If you want to spend a New Year's Eve in a place that is truly fun and memorable, Disneyworld is THE answer. It really makes you forget about all the worldly worries and concerns, and you become a carefree child again, no matter how old you are. For kids, it is probably the most exciting place to be for this holiday.

I, too, decided to return back to my long gone childhood, so I immersed myself into the magic world of Disney.

One of the most spectacular shows in Disneyworld you will see is a Dream Come True Parade of popular Disney characters. So, in the middle of December 31st, I found myself on Main Street of Disneyworld and prepared to watch this exciting parade that I've heard so much about. Half an hour before the show, people gathered along the Main Street, which is a parade route. Some snacked or chatted with others, kids played with hula hoops, and everyone seemed more and more anxious the closer to the parade beginning it was getting.

Finally, people noticed some movement in the distance.

Many got ready to take photos or record the action.

The parade began. You could literally feel the joyful atmosphere and excitement of a fairy tale.

With the firsts sight of the Disney characters, I was immediately transferred many years back into my childhood. Chip and Dale, Aladdin and Princess Jasmin, Donald Duck, Princesses and Princes greeted the spectators. Smiles were everywhere! I can say that for sure that I've never seen so many smiles in one day.

All sort of dancing characters added up to the feeling of joy and fun.

What Winter Holidays parade could be complete without the Gingerbread Cookies?

Here come Winnie the Pooh and Company, and immediately cameras get stuck to the spectators' eyes.

But the public got especially excited when the Seven Dwarfs showed up. Even the oldest visitors of the Magic Kingdom could relate to the tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs because back in 1937 it was the first full-length animated color film produced in the US. Even more importantly, it was the first film to be produced by Walt Disney. Since then, this cartoon has never ceased to be one of the favorites for kids in many countries.

Some practical information, in case you want to spend the New Year's Eve in Disneyworld:

1. Come early - the gates can easily close at 11 AM when the park is full. You don't want to be left behind, do you?

2. One day ticket costs $74 for kids and $82 for adults.

3. If you want to experience a special dinner in Cinderella Castle, you can find more information here:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/cinderellas-royal-table/

4. Information on transportation could be found here:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/

5. Weather in Orlando: in December, the average temperatures is 73 °F/23 °C.

Time for some sea!

2010-08-29T09:18:00.000-07:00

There are things I get used to and barely notice them after a while. Or take them for granted. Or whatever. My emotions just get quite neutral then. But every time I see Mediterranean Sea, I never get enough of it. I can stare at it for hours and never get tired of it. Just like I never get tired of blueberries, no matter how much I eat them day after day. :-) Those two things can never get boring for me.

This is what the sea looks like from the Monaco's Jardin Saint-Martin (St. Martin Garden).

A random photo of Monaco

2010-08-28T20:58:00.000-07:00

New Year's Eve in Disneyworld

2010-08-28T20:45:00.000-07:00

I can write about the New Year's Eve in Disneyworld for hours and hours. But I won't - just to save the space and time. In short: it was fantastic! It was definitely one of my best New Year's Eves in a long run. First, I enjoyed the whole day at the Magic Kingdom, although I wasn't able to do much - there were way too many people. In fact, at 11 AM they had already closed the gates and didn't let any new visitors in as they've filled the allowed quota (by the fire regulations) of 100,000 people. Yes, the park was packed, and I could go for only one ride and see several parades. But I was rewarded at night with a fabulous view of the Cinderella Castle.

As it was getting darker, the Castle lit up. It looked so mysterious in the dusk that I actually felt like being transferred into a fairy tale.

The castle changed its colors and I stood there, unable to take my eyes off of it. Just simply continued staring at it until it got completely dark. And then...

...the Castle sparkled with glitter. It totally knocked me out! I didn't expect anything like this. It was magical.

People gathered in front of the Castle and waited for THE moment.

Right at midnight, the fireworks began.

The Castle continued changing its color along with the fireworks.

I stood in awe with a camera stuck to my face, unable to move.

Will I do it again? Absolutely!

Weekend mood

2010-08-28T20:24:00.001-07:00

Sunrise in Venice

2010-08-28T20:19:00.000-07:00

One of my best travel experiences is getting up early in the morning and watching the sunrise. It's a torture for me to wake up at 5 AM, but this is the only time when I'm actually looking forward to getting up. :-) I have seen many sunrises in various places - in fact, it's almost like a ritual that must be done in a newly visited location. But so far, nothing could beat the sunrise in Venice.

The Doges Palace is stunning in the gentle sun rays.

Early in the morning, there are almost no people on the streets of Venice, except maybe some occasional tourist or photographers.

It's quiet around, and the only sound you hear is the gondolas swaying in the lagoon waters at the pier.

The sun begins to show up from behind the buildings.

Suddenly, everything around is illuminated with golden light.

Santa Maria della Salute looks especially beautiful this time of the day.

And so does San Giorgio Maggiore.

Basilica di San Marco alone is worth getting up so early.

If you ever visit this incredibly interesting town, don't miss the sunrise. You surely will be rewarded. And, who knows, maybe it'll become your favorite experience too?

Smiles

2010-08-28T20:03:00.000-07:00

Quedlinburg - a well-hidden German gem

2010-08-28T19:44:00.000-07:00

It was in Quedlinburg that in 1945 one of the biggest art thefts in the 20th century occurred. An American soldier had stolen several medieval artifacts from the Collegiate Church of St. Servatius and mailed them back to his home in Texas. For years, these treasures (now worth about $200 million) remained hoarded in obscurity. But after some of the relics surfaced on the international arts market in the late 1980’s, a waterfall of events led to a United States District Court case against the soldier’s brother and sister, who had attempted to sell the stolen items. By 1993, the looted relics had been restored to the Quedlinburg church.

Yes, there still are those gems in Europe that mainstream tourism doesn't know about. One of such places is a picturesque town of Quedlinburg in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The reason why it isn't well-known is because it is a bit hard to reach this town by public transportation. One needs to make several train changes, which could be quite confusing. But it is relatively low number of visitors that makes this town feel authentic and relaxing. You won't find hordes of tourist like you do in, say, Florence. This is a true place for a romantic getaway.

Perhaps, the best spot in the town is the castle garden. You can sit on a bench and enjoy a gentle breeze and the views of the red roofs.

Quedlinburg contains a trove of treasures dating back to the 10th century, when Saxon royalty founded the town. In fact, this collection is so large that it encompasses the entire Altstadt (old town) in the form an ancient castle, Romanesque and Gothic churches and over thirteen hundred half-timbered houses built across five centuries.

Unlike medieval “museum towns” like the popular Rothenburg in central Germany, Quedlinburg was not bombed and then rebuilt out of ruins. Since its founding in the 10th century by Saxon royalty, the town has avoided destruction by war or fire. Not many German towns were that lucky.

Much of your time in Quedlinburg will be spent strolling through the winding cobblestone lanes, peeking into hidden courtyards, or snapping photos of countless timbered treasures. And since everything you see is genuine and preserved from bygone eras, you can easily visualize yourself in any time period going back a thousand years.

For an authentic window into the Middle Ages head to the Quedlinburg Castle and the Collegiate Church, both perched on top of a sandstone hill.

Have a cup of espresso or a hearty lunch at a castle restaurant.

Stroll over to the 700-year old Rathaus (city hall) where ivy cascades down the Baroque façade. On the left side of the Rathaus, find the centuries-old statue of Roland. This European mythical hero came to represent a German town’s defiant independence from powerful nobility. The tower right behind Roland has no windows or doors. That is because this tower was used as a city treasury and one had to go past the guards inside the Rathaus in order to enter the treasury. No windows was a big obstacle for the thieves.

As you meander through the maze of narrow streets toward the castle hill, check out one of the oldest timbered houses in Germany (dated to the early 1300’s) at Wordgasse #3.

Find little cozy parks to take a break and give your feet some rest.

There are many other European towns and cities noted for their medieval character, but not until you come to Quedlinburg will you discover “the real deal.” If you’re looking for a place with genuine atmosphere and charm right out of the Middle Ages, a town which can tell you unusual stories, or a town where you can discover something new - look no further than this German jewel.

On a practical note: accommodations in Quedlinburg are abundant. Where else can you enjoy staying in a real old timber house for a reasonable price?

Eiffel Tower: here, there, and everywhere

2010-08-27T17:12:00.000-07:00

The Eiffel Tower is so popular that besides the original tower in Paris, there are two copies in the United States. Not exactly the same height as the original tower, but these copies are high enough to enjoy. Apart from that, there are small copies of the tower in all sorts of parks worldwide (like Legoland, for instance).

The original tower was built in 1889 for the World's Fair and today it is one of the most visited monuments in the world. It's interesting that the Parisians at first disliked the structure, but today it's hard to imagine Paris without this "Iron Woman."

In 1999 the Las Vegas copy was build and it is half the size of the original tower. It's hovering over the Paris Hotel and Casino. No matter what they say, this tower still doesn't feel very real, although the architects and builders did a great job.

At night the tower looks especially good. And a bit intimidating.

The second American copy is located in the French Pavilion at the Disneyworld’s Epcot theme park (Orlando, Florida). It's approximately 1/10th the size of the original tower. It isn't possible to come up close to this structure because it simply plays the role of a background decoration. But overall it does set up Parisian atmosphere in the Pavilion.

The other side of the Palace

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This is what the Prince's Palace looks like from another angle. This part is a private section of the palace.

The Prince's Palace of Monaco

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testThe Monte Carlo Casino might be a widely known iconic symbol of Monaco, but I personally think that the Prince's Palace of Monaco is more significant. Just because it's been there for centuries before the Casino was even projected on paper. In fact, the Prince's Palace of Monaco was founded over 800 years ago (to be specific, in 1191). The Grimaldi family captured it some hundred years later (all right, if you really need to know the date, they did that in 1297). Because Monaco was - and still is - such a small country, the royal family didn't have any other residences, like, say, the royal family of England does. There was no room for palaces, not even small ones (and why would a royal family want a small palace in the first place?), so the Grimaldis lived in the same palace for 700 years. Quite unusual, isn't it?

These guys that guard the palace don't look very scary. But don't let this mislead you. You can rest assured that if anyone tries to harm the royal family, these men will kill him without blinking.

The cannons look so natural standing next to the palace that they look like part of this building.

St Mary's Tower is a relatively new addition to the castle (1860's).

For those very curious ones, the State Apartments are open for public visits, but only from April 2 to October 31. Photography is prohibited. As of 2010, the tickets cost 7 Euros for adults and 3,50 Euros for kids (age 8-14). Students pay the same price as kids.
Opening hours:
* from April 2 to April 30 - 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM everyday
* from May 1 to September 30 - 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM everyday
* from October 1 to October 31 - 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM everyday

There also is a Napoleon Museum in the Palace. The museum is really worth visiting - you can see personal items that belonged to Napoleon, including his hat, letters, documents, etc. You can purchase a combined ticket that is good for both State Apartments and Napoleon Museum
The Museum is closed from November 12 to December 16.
The combined ticket for adults costs 9 Euros, and 4,5 Euros for kids (age 8-14) and students.